A Houston man was arrested and charged with trafficking of a child, compelling prostitution of a child and two sexual assaults of a child during a joint operation between Harris County Criminal Investigations and Security Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s office.
Tyrone Berry, 66, worked at the North Villa Inn along the North Freeway between East Richie Road and Bammel Road.
According to court documents, the victim was first interviewed more than five years ago on July 15, 2019. She told investigators she ran away from a foster home and was dropped off by a friend at the North Villa Inn.
The victim said while she was staying at the hotel, she met an employee known as “Big Mike,” aka Berry who promised to take care of her after his shift. She told investigators that “Big Mike” took her to a local recording studio, where she met Otis Berry, also known as “Big Face Tulu,” and stated she was coerced into having sex with Tyrone Berry’s friends and family. Records show Otis Berry was arrested in 2020, accused of trafficking and assaulting teens. A Harris County grand jury indicted him in February of 2024 on three charges related to prostitution of a minor and one drug charge.
READ MORE: Houston music studio owner surrenders to human trafficking charges after nearly 2 months on the run
The teen told investigators that if she made enough money, Berry would provide her with food, but when she failed to meet his expectations, he dropped her off at a Walmart in a red minivan. The last “date” she was involved in took place the morning of June 14, 2019.
Court documents show the teen believed Berry was being paid for her actions, and she never received any money and was also given drugs while at the recording studio. The teen told investigators she was forced to have sex with more than 20 men at both the studio and the defendant’s house.
On October 8, 2019, a Harris County investigator came to the North Villa Inn where the teen said she had been with Tyrone Berry. The investigator made contact with Berry while requesting records. On October 22, 2021, the victim positively identified Berry in a lineup, according to the documents.
BACKGROUND: Recording studio owner wanted for sexual assault of a child and human trafficking
Berry had previously been sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to a sex offense involving a minor, tampering with government records, and kidnapping in 2005 and 2006, according to records.
“Our increased efforts to crack down on Human Trafficking are paying off. More outstanding work by our Sgt. Y. Saenz and her team, all part of our jail-based Criminal Investigations and Security Division (CISD),” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales in a Facebook post.